Filing mechanism



Aug' 30, 1955 v s. J. oHARA 2,716,410

FILING MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNE S Aug 30 1955 s. J. OHARA 2,716,410

FILING MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1952 FIG. v9

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /////////////////t gjm ATTO NEYS Aug. 30, 1955 s. J. O'HARA FILING MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1952 3 Shee'ffs--Sheetl 3 l INVENTOR United States Patent() FILING MECHANISM Stephen J. OHara, Palo Alto, Calif.

Application .lune 18, 1952, Serial No. 294,157

4 Claims. (Cl. 129-18) such sheets in edgewise, vertical position for inspection,

and for removal if desired.

By utilizing the improved tiling unit numerous accounting systems can be simplied, resulting in substantial reduction in accounting costs.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a i construction of filing unit by means of which sheets in any desired quantity, from a hundred or less to several thousand, may be readily placed in the filing unit and, by the manipulation of which, individual sheets may be readily and quickly located and removed, or additional sheets may be inserted, without interfering with the arrangement and support of the remaining sheets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this kind which is so arranged that it can be manipulated over a considerable period of time without causing the operator undue fatigue. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide a filing unit of this kind capable of operating with sheets of thin paper that are comparatively fragile and which are provided merely with two notches or slots in one vertical edge thereof forming downwardly projecting tongues, and no reinforcement at such areas being required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide as an article of manufacture, a sheet having two slots as described, and preferably substantially L-shaped, in one vertical edge thereof for supporting the sheet in a vertical position in the tiling unit.

The invention will be understood from a consideration of the accompanying drawings wherein several embodiments of the filing unit construction are illustrated by way of example. In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, drawn to a small scale, of the ling unit with a cylindrical or circular mass of sheets supported thereby;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 and drawn to the same scale;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l and drawn to a very much larger scale;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sections drawn to a still larger scale and showing an individual sheet in two different positions, illustrating the two steps required in removing a sheet;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a moditied form of the tiling unit with major portions of the sheets broken away;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational detail showing a modification of a part of the structure of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation looking in the direction of the arrows 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of another modification of the filing unit drawn to about the same scale as Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9 drawn to the same scale as Figs, 3 and 6;

Fig. l1 is a sectional detail view showing a modied form of the supporting notch and its cooperating supporting members.

Fig. l2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the modiiication shown in Figs. 9 and 10 incorporating the locking plate of Fig. 6;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional View taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view of the lower pory tion of the modification shown in Figs. 12 and 13.

Referring now to these drawings, the improved tiling unit supports the sheets in vertical position by engagement only with the rear edge portions of the individual sheets, and in the device of Figs. 1 3, the individual sheets 1 are supported in a mass 2 in a form of a hollow cylinder, the inner edges of each sheet being adjacent a supporting post 3 and projecting outward in an approximately radial direction. The quantity or mass of sheets 2 may and preferably is divided into groups or blocks by means of permanent separators 4 which may project beyond the outward edges of the sheets.

Post 3 is rotatably mounted in any suitable manner,- upon a base 5. As shown, post 3 is a hollow tubel or sleeve which is closed at its lower end by a bearing support 6 and at its upper end by means of a cap 7 Support 6 carries a friction-reducing bearing 8 of the ball thrust type whose inner or stationary race member makes a force i'it with a stationary rod 9v threaded at its opposite ends, and the lower end of which-is rmly screwed into a standard 9a attached to base 5. Rod- 9 extends centrally of tube 3 and is provided at its upper end with a knurled nut 10 which is slightly spaced from cap 7 to allow sleeve 3 to turn freely.

The sheets used in the tiling unit as shown are pre; formed with two spacedv tongue-forming substantially.v

L-shaped slots 11 spaced from one another along the another to correspond withthe location of slots 111, andl one member of each pair, the upper member 12 is fixed in position while the lower member 13 of each pair is movable.

In the form of the invention under consideration these members 12 and 13 consist of annular rings of substantially the same diameter, width and thicknessand have flat substantially parallel upper and lower surfaces. The

two upper rings 12 are fixed to the revolvable post 3 by any suitable means such as the short radial rod-like fingers 14 which are thin enough to extend between the sheets without noticeably separating them. These fingers 14 are permanently united to the inner edge of the two upper rings 12 at one end, and at the other, to post 3 in any suitable manner as by brazing, welding, or the like.

In order to support the two lower and movable rings 13, an inner tubular member or sleeve 15 is mounted in slidable position on rod 9 and is provided with two collars 16 and 17. These collars are fixed tortube 15, one at the level of upper ring 13, and the other below at the level of the lower ring 13. Upper ring 13 is supported on collar 16 by a number of radial rod-like fingers 18 their lower, normal and locking position, rod 15 is urged downwardly by means of a compression spring 20 which surrounds the upper portion of rod 9. This spring forces sleeve 15. downwardly. against a stop. device presently to, be described which determines the lower or locking position of rings 13.

lin-order to actuate sleeve-151m elevate rings 13 totheir releasel position, to bedescribed; and, at the same time, afford-frneansby which the post` 3 andicyl-inder 2 of sheets can be revolved, thefollowing arrangement is-v provided. A light circular wheel having a rim 21 and: anumberof radial spokesV 22, four being shown, is mounted on. the lower part of post 3 ata. convenientelevation above the surface of base so it can be manipulated by the fingers ofthe operator-while thehand rests upon the surf-ace of this base. Spokes 22 of this wheel project outwardly from a hub in the form-v of= aflat collar 23. Just abovethis is a radial-ly hanged collar 24 which is mounted on the lower end of shift-able sleeve-a In the normalor locked posit-ion of ringsv 13 the ange rests-upon collar 2,3-, which inl turn; is seated uponv a cylindricall ange 25 which projects upwardly froml bearing support- 6. Suitable slots 12.7 areprovided in tubular post' 3 to permit the spokes 22 to swing vertically whenV the wheelI rim 21l is depressed atv any point along its periphery. Such depressiony of' the wheel to the dot and dash position, shown in Fig. 3, causes collar 23 to tiltV about the upper edge of flange 2S as a pivot lifting the opposite side of collar 2'3; away from the opposite side of flange 2S to cause the desired upward-movement or shaft of sleeve 15;

The arrangement is such as this shifting movement causes the lower sheet support rings 13 tobe moved up- Wardly into close proximity with, and4 preferably in contact with, the upper rings 12 of each pair. This places the two rings of each pair in the position approximately as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Wtih the rings in this position all of the sheets ofthe entire cylindrical mass or block 2,' are still' firmly and positively supportedv in their originalY position on the filing unit, the upper flat surfaces 26 ofthe two slots 11 resting upon the upper at surfaces of the upper stationary rings 12.

When the lower rings are shifted upwardly to therelease position, however, any individual sheet of the group, or a number of sheets simultaneously, canl be removed from the tiling unit. This is done by a two step movement, lirst by raising from theposition shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5, and, second,4by outward movement ofthe sheet or sheets. Removal is permitted, because the,

distance betweenA the upper. and lower surfaces ofv rings 12 and 13 of each pair, when in this position, is lessthan the width of the horizontal leg portions 27 of the two L-shapedh slots 11, It will be understoodthat if.- desired the same sheets canY b e repositioned in the filing-unit, or

additinal sheets may be added to, the tilingy unit, by. a.

reverse procedure,

When the wheel rim 21 is released, the two shiftable lower rings 1,3'. return to their lower position in. spacedv relation to the fixed upper rings 12, as show-n; in Fig. 3,

whereby the sheets of the cylindrical mass 2, are again.

stantially, right angles to thel outer edge 28, which,v isl parallel. withfthe inner edge 2 9=of the sheet; Thel upper portions; 30v of. the inner edges. o f slots 1,1; are parallel with the outer edges 28, but; thelower portionsof these innr edges diverge from parallelism. inwardly. widening therv'cnticaltr leg portions; of the slots towards. thefbottom Such lower portions may have a straight line formation, as. indicated, at 3.1 in Figs. 4. and. 5,. or a suitably curved formation, as indicated at 32 in Fig. 10. By widening the vertical portion of the slot adjacent the horizontal portion in this manner, the lifting of the sheets is prevented when movable rings 13 are raised. If any sheet is out of place, instead of lifting it, the edges of rings 13 by engaging the cam-like edges 3 1 and 32, shift such sheet into the correct position. By having the upper portion of slots 11 parallel, however, and only slightly wider than the width of stationary rings 12, the` outer edges of the sheets are maintained even so as to facilitate manipulation of the edges of' the sheets tofind or locateY any particular sheet desired.

This locating of particular sheets can be done by the thumb or finger of, for example, the right hand of the operator, the left hand being used to spin or turn the post 3 and its mass of sheets, and release or unlock the sheets by depressing wheel; rim 21. If desired, however, apivoted sheet fnderfinger 33 (Fig. 3) may be provided. This finger is pivoted to swing horizontally at the top of a vertical supporting rod- 34, which is mounted on andi projects upwardly from basel 5. Near itsupper end it has a shoulder 35' on which rests acompression coil' spring -l 36, which engages the hub port-ionof-nger 33and urges it upwardly into engagement with a pin 37 mounted: crosswise of the upper end of rod 34. One or more grooves 38 may be provided in the upper surface of the hub intox whichcross pin 37x will tto maintain` the finger in operating or in retracted position, as shown. Finger 33k is also provided with a thumb wing 39 by which the finger can be manipulated. The finger is preferably provided with a button 40 of friction material, such as rubber, for contacting the sheets.

In the modified form of the tilingv device, shown` in Fig. 6, the constructionl is the same as previously described in connection with Figs. l-5, except that the shiftable locking rings 13 are omitted andl in1 place of them a shiftable annular locking plate 41` is arranged: to be engaged by the upper edges of the sheets' adjacent the revolvable` postV 3 if an attempt-is made to remove sheets whilev plate 41 is in its lower or locking position. The sheetsare supported; entirely bythe Xed rings 1124 in the same manner as they are in the device of Figs. l.-5,.rings 13` of that device serving only as locking members.

In this modification the vertical shiftable sleeve 15avisactuated by: mechanism which is identical. withy that: described in connection with Fig. 3. However, in. order to support the annular locking plate 412 and connect it. withsleeve 15a, a short. sleeve 42, which is connected at its lower end to the upper end; of sleeve 15a, is arrangedto slide vertically on the inside surface of'- post 3; Locking plate 41 maybe provided with a series ofv tangs43, which are struck from the metal of theplate and' turned inwardly so as to project through a series of. vertical slots 44 arranged in the upper portion of. post 3; and tangs 43 may be attached. toinner sleeve 42: by soldering, welding or other appropriate manner.

The operation or manipulation. ofy thisniodilied form of filing device of Fig. 6.is substantiallythe sameas thaty of theI device previously described; The; operator turns or spins the cylindrical block of sheets 2-.ontthe tilingdevice by manipulating wheel 21 with. one hand', and? inding the particular sheet desired with the other hand; When the sheet has been found wheel 21 is` depressed, thus lifting.

locking plate 41, whereupon the sheet can be raised: ver,- tically until it engages plate 4:1 inthe. raised position', in which position the horizontal leg.portions of slots-11' willf be horizontally opposite the stationary. supporting rings:

12. Thus, by. outwardmovementof the; sheet, it canibe removedl from the tiling: device.

This modiiiedform of the apparatus-is somewhatzeasier to manipulate than the form shown*y in- Fig; 3; inasmuch as the locking plate 41, whenzin raisediposition; ser-vesas a stoptovindicatewhenthe sheet has been raised=suflL ci'e'ritl'y for its removal. Plate 41 thenserve's as a guide for removing the sheet horizontally, and it also may be used as a guide for introducing sheets into the tiling device. The upper edge of a sheet is rst brought against the lower surface of plate 41 and then slid inwardly until it is stopped by the engagement by the outer edges of rings 12 with the edges 28 of the slots 11, whereupon the wheel rim 21 can be released, thus lowering plate'41 to locking position.

It will be understood from Fig. 6 that when plate 41 is in locking position, it is spaced somewhat from the upper edges of the sheets 1 so as not to apply pressure to the sheets which might cause them to buckle or to be deformed. It is preferable, however, to have the plate 41 engage the upper edges of the sheets when in locking position and for this reason the lower surface of plate 41 may be provided with a cushion facing 45, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Such cushion facing may be made of any soft, flexible, resilient material, such for example as foam rubber. With such a facing, when plate 41 is at locking position, the lower surface of facing 4S lightly engages the upper edges of the sheets 1, as shown in Fig. 8.

Referring now to Figs. 9 and l0, a further modification of the apparatus is here illustrated which, instead of being of a rotary type, is of the straight line or cabinet type. In this form of the apparatus a narrow upright rectangular chamber 46 is mounted at the rear of the rectangular base member a. Chamber 46,which is preferably of metal, has front and rear vertical walls 47 and 48 and a rectangular cover 49. Near the opposite ends of chamber 46 are two vertical stationary rods 50 by which the chamber may be attached to the base 5a, these rods being threaded at both ends and provided with nuts, as shown. Secured to the ends of chamber 46 are two end plates 51 between which and the front wall of the chamber the filing space is formed, which is open at the front and top and within which is a group of sheets 1, which are provided with the slots 11, previously described. It will be understood that either type of slot may be used in any of the forms of the filing apparatus described.

The sheets are supported in substantially the same manner as previously described except that the rings 12 and 13 are now in the form of straight, horizontal parallel strips or bars 12a and 13a, arranged in two pairs, upper and lower, as before, and supported in much the same manner. The stationary upper bars 12a are supported by fingers 14a, which are mounted on the front wall 47 of chamber 46.- The vertically shiftable bars 13a are supported by fingers 18a, which project through slots 19a in wall 47 and are mounted at their inner ends on collar 16a and 17a, which in turn are carried on two vertically shiftable tubular members a, which are arranged to slide, one on each of the stationary rods 50. Compression springs 20a are arranged on each of these rods to urge the two sleeves 15a downwardly.

The operating mechanism for raising the shiftable bars 13a is somewhat different from that of Figs. 3 and 6. It comprises a horizontal depressible bar 52 mounted slightly above the surface of base 5a and extending substantially between the end walls 51 below the sheets 1. This bar is supported near its opposite ends by the legs 53 of a U-shaped member 54. The rear horizontal body of this U-shaped member is within chamber 46 and the two legs project forwardly through two apertures or slots 5'5 in front wall 47. The lower edges of legs 52 are notched, as shown at 56, to form pivots for the U-shaped member at the lower edges of slots 55.

The body of U-shaped member 54 extends beneath the flanges of the two flanged members 24a, which are mounted at the lower ends of sleeve members 15a, so that when bar 52 is depressed the body of the U-shaped member, which is at the rear of the pivots 56, is raised, and this in turn raises the two sleeves 15a simultaneously thereby elevating the locking bars 13a. In order to maintain the bars 13a in the correct locking position with respect to the bottoms of the slots 11 whenv actuating bar 52 is released, a stop member 57 is arranged within chamber 46 and in position to be engaged by the lower edge of the body of U-shaped member 54.

It will be understood that the operation of this form of the Atiling device is substantially the same as previously described in connection with the rotary type, except for the fact that it is a straight line tile instead of a rotary tile.

It will be further understood that if desired, instead of employing the lower locking bars 13a, a shiftable locking plate 41a (Fig. 12) may be arranged at the upper edges of the sheets in a manner similar to annular locking plate 41 in Fig. 6. In that event such plate assumes a straight form and is mounted in horizontal position and actuated by the two vertically shiftable sleeves 15a, one on each of the two posts 50 (Figs. 13 and 14).

Referring now to Fig. 11, there is here shown a still further modification, this however consisting of a slight change in the shape of the substantially L-shaped slot 11, as shown at 11a in this figure, and also a slight change in the cross-sectional shape of the supporting rings 12 and-13 or bars 12a and 13a. Instead of having parallel, flat upper edges or surfaces, the modified form of slot 11a has grooved or rounded upper and lower edges, the remainder of the slot being similar to slot 11. Also, the upper or stationary ring or bar 12b, is provided with the correspondingly curved or rounded upper surface, and the lower or shiftablering or bar 13b, is provided with a correspondingly rounded lower surface. The contiguous surfaces of these two members 12b and 13b are, however, preferably at so as to allow the bars to approach close to one another thereby keeping the width of the horizontal leg portion of slot 11a as narrow as possible.

While a number of embodiments of the improved filing mechanism have been disclosed, it will be understood that further changes may be made without exceeding the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore intended that the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rack for supporting flexible sheets in vertical edgewise position and in contact with one another, the sheets having two spaced substantially L-shaped notches in one vertical edge forming upper and lower downwardly projecting edge tongue portions, said rack comprising a fixed frame constructed to rest upon a supporting surface to support said rack, a vertical post rotatably supported upon said frame, upper and lower vertically spaced sheet supporting rings on said post to be engaged by the tops of said respective notches to support the said sheets, a movable plate disposed adjacent the top edges of said sheets to lock said sheets on said rings by preventing lifting of said sheets, spring means for urging said plate to said locking position, mechanism for lifting said plate to allow removal of said sheets, a wheel operatively connected to rotate said post and to actuate said lifting mechanism by the tilting of said wheel, said wheel having a rim disposed below and adjacent the outer periphery of said mass of sheets, said wheel being operable to turn said mass of sheets to aid in locating a desired sheet thereof, and also being operable by depressing the rim thereof to raise said locking plate to sheet-releasing position.

2. A rack for supporting flexible sheets in vertical edgewise position and in contact with one another, the sheets having two spaced substantially L-,shaped notches in one vertical edge forming upper and lower downwardly projecting edge tongue portions, said rack comprising a fixed frame constructed to rest upon a supporting surface to support said rack, upper and lower vertically spaced sheet supporting members on said frame to be engaged by the tops of said respective notches to support the said sheets, locking means disposed to engage the top edges of said sheets to lock thexn on said supports by preventing, lifting thereof, means yieldingly urging.l said; lOkiDg means against the top edges et the sheets said; locking.

prisingv a. housing constructed-1 toy rest uponi as supporting; surface., upper andi lowes vertically spaeed horizontal;

bars mounted; Within; said housing tobe engaged by the tops` of said'z tzespective notches: to supportV the said: sheets, ak locking bar disposed to engage the; ton. edges. of said She-ts t0' 19.0K them on` said bars by pneventing lifting thereof, means yieldingly, urging said locking! means against; the; top edges of thev sheets,.said2bait-beingimovo able uuvvaidbsv and manually-operated lever.v means operiab1eupon actuation, to` forcibly raisey saidl b ar against the fois-ce: exerted by, said: yieldingly-urgingrneans-I a. distance; greates than. the. vetticalf length ofsaicib` tongue por-f tions so; as. to. allow the removal; of, individuali sheetsbyA consecutive: liftingandl outward:t horizQntaimovements thereof'.

4t. At rack for supporting iiexible sheetsL in vertical edgewise position. and in contact with one another, the

sheetst having two spacedJ substantiallyV L-shaped notches inVA one verticalI edge forming, upper.- and lower' down-l wardly projectingJ edgeftonglle portions., said rack. oomprisingf a xed frame constructed., toinestupon a supporting surface to` supportL said, rack, upper and.- lower venti#k cally spaced sheet supporting, singsr onk said frame to; be engaged by the. tops; o said', respective notches. to: support thev said sheets, ai circulan locking plate, meansV disposedto engage the topi edges; of said sheets tof lock them onsaid supports by preventing lifting thereof, means yield ingly urging Sdilocking;meanstagainstathe top-edges of the sheets, said lockingplate being, moveable tuawardly,y

and manually operated) levermeans', for, forcibly` raisingv said locking plate against; the-.foncez exerted by said'yieldriugm-urging; means atdistance: greatertha-nthe, vertical;

length of said tongue por-tions. sof as tot allow the; removal;

of individual sheetaby consecutive lifting; andV radial horiszontal movements thereof.,

References Cited, in the, tile of this patent- UNITED, STATES; PATENTS* 561,670L Kosby" June 9,'r 1896` 1,695,322 D'ay Dec. 1.8, 1928' 1,845,700 Carlson et al Feb; 1,6', 1932 2,087,518' I owe Iul'y 20, 1937/" 2,116,078 Mevi May 3, 1938 2,220,189 Wolters N'ov. 5, 19`40` E@RFJtGi'L` BATENTS;

175,231 Great Britain 1922' 492,881- Germany- 1930 588,259 Greatl Britain 1947 643,124 Gieaty Britain 1950 

